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WHAT it show is if you put 16 riders of similar ability and similar equipment on a proper race track you will get great entertainment...

Er, why don't you just enjoy what we have while we have it and leave this to the close season?

why does it require laughter when hes returning from apparently nasty injuries?probably pleased to complete 5 rides

very strange very very strange Sedgeman not ridden for months Kurtz binned off by Somerset out of form. Proctor has been smashing in better scores and form in both Leagues for past few weeks. Leicester in Shield Final look sure to be in Play Offs need rider whose average Proctor best fits. "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" or "robbing one Bates to pay another Bates". IF Proctor ends up at Leicester it will bring Sport in to further disrepute and ridicule. No doubt one for the Management Committee to look in to Oh hang on....."Bates and Bates and Godfrey

“Best interests of the sport rule” coming into play again.

All this chopping and changing of team building averages is doing the sport no favours. As stated above the 42.5 number is king and what is needed to balance out sides otherwise it creates falsely high averages and then after one season riders get frozen out as a new crop of non ready riders take their places, no disrespect to any but 50% of the 2 pointers in the Champs are there because of their average and not ability.

Still got the dodgy fuel in the tanks to help some riders improve their score & get Cookie to lessen his to a more attractive average for next year.(some people just cannot see it but it might sow the seeds of doubt )

Spot on. The trouble is in speedway you get criticised for investing money! The Facennas at Glasgow recognised that the existing stadium and track wouldn't attract any more than the 400 diehards , if you were lucky, that were attending when they took over. They invested heavily in the stadium and every year have improved the track - safety fence, shape - and general facilities, the latest being a big screen. Yet they get criticised for being 'rich'. Anyone that wants to see if it has worked just look at the videos for Heat 15 from the last 2 meetings on their web site or facebook page. Brilliant racing and an enthusiastic crowd going mental.

You appear not to understand the financial implications of ' dropping the CL'. The Championship pays him around 60% of his current wages based on number of fixtures and scores, without that he simply cannot afford to do the PL as its far too few fixtures and as his average at Peterbrough shows, no harder than the championship. Sweden is such a small league and with its fixtures and team selection rules, he's not going to get in that league and Danish league is not a step up unless he is in their Elite which also isn't going to happen for the same reasons. His Polish team haven't paid his wages for last season so he's way out of pocket there and you want him to drop 60% of his earnings? Would you?

In theory yes they can, as all team declarations are subject to approval as being ‘in the best interests of the sport’.....

Especially on the podium

Has Scott Nicholls ever rode at Poole?

This fixture, already looking competitive, has now been spiced by Charles Wright lifting the British Championship. Berwick's usual line-up is Summers, Etheridge, Doolan, Gappmaier, Busk Jakobsen, Garcia & Flint. Redcar will be bringing Riss, Andersen, Palm Toft, Stewart, Wright, Woolley & Greaves -- racing order unconfirmed. Both sides at full strength -- Redcar with their new British champ, plus a new No 1, Erik Riss, who is a double World (long-track) Champion. Bandits remain unbeaten at home in Championship action for over a year, but the recently-revised Bears could be their stiffest test so far this season. If Charles Wright brings the same form he displayed at Belle Vue, Shielfield spectators are in for a treat. Plus, with another tasty wee treat of the NJL mini-match following the main event, Saturday's spectators will be able to enjoy 21 meaningful races for their money. Tell the town -- the new British Champion is coming to Berwick on Saturday night!

After 59 of 110 meetings:- 1 Glasgow 11M 5H 6A +17 2 Leicester 14M 6H 8A +12 3 Redcar 9M 4H 5A +4 4 Somerset 13M 7H 6A +3 5 Berwick 10M 3H 7A +1 6 Sheffield 11M 7H 4A -1 7= Edinburgh 9M 4H 5A -2 7= Scunthorpe 10M 5H 5A -2 9 Newcastle 8M 5H 3A -3 10 Eastbourne 12M 7H 5A -6 11 Birmingham 11M 6H 5A -9 E&OE

Only thing that sows the seed of doubt is your sanity. But seriously you surely are at the wind up well at least i hope you are. Another fantastic performance on the road once again , Razzer on fire and i hold my hands up in doubting the signing in April , has been awesome so far and a large slice of humble pie . Well done lads another fantastic performance.

There's only you describing Wright as ' bang average' which surprises me as he's improved every season , been a heat leader in the Premiership for the last 2 seasons and a no.1 in the championship also, nothing average about that. Bewley doesn't ride in the CL now but has a Polish club that pays him mega bucks when it's owed, not like Opole who won't pay Wright the thousands they owe him. ( Wright is not the only victim in Poland) I have known him for four seasons and the lad does not lack ambition but , as yet, he has not attracted the level of sponsors the likes of Lambert and Woffy have secured when they were on the ' up'. If your going to say drop the CL why hasn't Cook? Does he lack ambition? hes been in the GP and can still qualify for next year, he's tried abroad ( but it hasn't worked ) but he still takes the easy money in the CL. to describe Wright as ' bang average ' is frankly insulting , check your last 3 speedway yearbooks and you will see he has been a high performer for quite a while he just doesn't blow his own trumpet enough and only hit the headlines when Gary May used him as a scapegoat for under performing Somerset and oh how he regrets that one.

yuppie flu?

What's that smell? Can smell it from here,smells like bull schnitzel

Offal isn't it.

I do like a bit of Swedish action, there is something about pretty blondes.

What always makes me laugh are some of those so eager to criticise the track cant wait to jump in after a few races, hence the racing improves and silence. Some seem to think its some sort of magical place where fantasy speedway is produced every race, mind you a bad meeting here can normally kick a good one elsewhere into a cocked hat. From what I hear Swindon is shaping up well and the racing is improving there, which is good news.

Tac sub?

Spot on all 16 could mix it and that made for some really good racing, that is why i believe bringing the big hitters back to the Prem is not the answer .Run to a budget and try to field a competitive team with the funds you have available that hopefully will keep tracks in business.

So there we have it Gustix has his own personal opinion and will continue to bang that drum at every occasion (in all fairness we all have our own opinions / passions on things) What is clear though is Danny Ayres started out as a rag tag chancer, progressed through to talented but emotional clown and is now a National hero. If anyone know a film producer......just make sure the 70's moustache era gets edited out.

so the rumours are true that said the Newcastle teams have become quite samey over the past few years and the results have been likewise.

Because she can't help herself?

Such a breath of fresh air. Witty, comical, playful and insightful. The bloke has got the lot! Just to add to the original post I’d agree before Monday night Wright would be classed as ‘a bang average rider’, and there is nothing wrong with that. However if he really wants to move in in the sport he needs to ditch the safety of the CL and try to get contracts in Europe and use PL only next season. Looking at that line up it was a perfect choice for a ‘spoiler’ to step up so huge congratulations to Charles on the victory. Just caught up with the meeting last night and it’s great to see a good crowd. Racing probably not at its highest standard till late on when as expected it delivered. But an average meeting at the NSS is better than the majority of all other tracks at their best anyway. Wright has been having a great season and looks to have made good progress. For GB let’s hope that continues.

Probably using the wrong wording, What I was trying to say , If Lambert don't allow the injury to fully repair it could hinder his process for years to come...

I agree with you to some degree. But if 20 heats on Monday night determined who was British Champion and had the right to ride at the Cardiff GP then it would have been Danny King. But Charles Wright had a highly disputed exclusion, which I don’t think he should have, which would have robbed him of potentially competing in a run off with Danny King, both on 14 points. As it was, heat 21 plus heat 22 effectively provided that run off. Taking into account the whole evening racing I think the correct outcome came about because of heat 22.

Why do all individual meetings end up with a stupid semi final and final ? It makes no sense... the most consistent rider over the evening after 5 rides should be the champion. All the individual meetings are now ruined by this daft idea. NB I do not support any of the finalists.

And so it may be. But if you look at the audience demographics and you want to attract young people to speedway then something of that ilk is exactly what should be tried. I bet now I've mooted the idea someone like the Isle of Wight would look at it very seriously

Have an early night George

One league or no league is the choice imo

Because its his top 20 and he can put in any one he wants, even if it makes no sense at all.

My first year in 1969 many teams in Division 2 had riders on loan from Div 1. As those riders improved they began to feature more in their senior team whilst continuing to compete at lower level. However it wasn’t long term like it is now. I remember Geoff Maloney at Rayleigh started one season on fire and was doubling up with Hackney, he moved up full time mid season much to my annoyance! What did stop riders dropping down a league was when Romford signed Des Lukehurst from Hackney as he couldn’t get a ride with another Div 1 team. In those days overnight it turned Romford into title challengers and I don’t think they lost another match all season. I remember huge crowds too.

There's always been doubling up but wasn't it usually riders in the second division trying to get better so therefore riding in the top division, more or less. Can't remember the top riders in the top division riding in the second division. Maybe wrong tho. Different times I suppose with riders not wanting to race here

Finals now are contested without a track grade in the GP's, as those who run it finally realised that most finals when given a track grade before they are ran, became a gate and go non event on a smooth one inside line track.. And we hear time and time again on commentary that "racing will improve" as a dirt line appears... Therefore, as you suggest, make that dirt line appear from heat one..

You must go through lots of nappies with all the shyte that comes out of your mouth ...

The Roo Boy has been a moaning faced **** for years , isn't that the reason The Monarchs got rid of him ?

Claus ( ex Rebel but inconsistent) , Sarj ( unreliable) and both reserves can take Starky's rides . Claus will be heat 14 in all likelihood . I'm confident our reserves will score against Somerset's, but not taking Starke's . But the most important thing is that it stays dry and we enjoy an exciting meeting and may the best team win

Something needs to be done because all the other top BCL teams have strengthed up and Leicester's early season dominance is no longer.

And that is why Tai is being careful and cautious over his own similar injury recovery, May not even be ready for the British G.P. And that is nearly another two months.

I said initiative (not promotion)..and Poole Pirates clobber will be stocked in store all summer so that's pretty good methinks.

It's not sad at all. It is not a case of attracting "a lesser quality of rider"; the "National League" is now designed to be a third division. We never had a "Premier League" or "Championship" back then. The level is irrelevant, and the term "National" was never meant to indicate a particular - let alone superior - level. That is what "First", "Second", and "Third" divisions are for... Steve

Is a tad early but I'd add Steve, Tero and Ashley to that list too... Fill in the blanks with an exciting number 5 (Richie maybe?) and a Luke Ruddick, Nathan Stoneman type at reserve... Would do me (First we need to know we are running next year!!) 1. Steve 2. Tero 3. Ashley 4. Matty 5. 6. Max 7. Love to have Danny Ayres in the team too... But don't see that happening lol

Maybe your language settings need altering??

Woffy is growing into the commentary stuff quickly. he is very good

Alfie is a very detirmined rider with little ability to turn a speedway bike on anything other than large tracks,, he gates well but if he gets inside another rider there are to many occasions were he makes uncontrolled contact and as such could be considered by some as dangerous ,potentially injuring another rider or indeed himself...We will see in the long run if that happens or he eventually becomes more controlled and a decent rider.....

No don't remember them , remember our double, double year at Shawfield though, that was comedy gold coming from the Edinburgh camp.

It might have been a corker of a meeting to what you normally see at Sheffield but for me, irrespective of the result, we threw it away, gifting points to the Glasgow lads in the way we rode the track. The track prep was not normal because of the weather we had & what was predicted pre meeting but it caught us out. What was up with Danny? Thoughts on tomorrow? That was a mare for him but being in the spotlight, giving interviews to put in to print has, maybe, got to him a bit. We needed to stop their lower order getting points but, for some reason, they were getting them. The inside line had the grip, possibly due to the amount of standing water that got in to the track before the water was removed yesterday. We also heard rumours of possible fuel tampering with probable additives used to get off the gate on a slick track. Whether a complaint has been put in with checks made & retrospective action taken later I am unsure but it did seem evident half way through the meeting when the Tigers got on top. Gating almost 3 metres in front by the 1st bend was evident mid meeting in which the track had not changed or been graded.